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A group of piano students hope to record and distribute 3,000 music CDs to injured soldiers at U.S. Veterans Health Administration hospitals around the country by the spring.

The CDs are being produced by the Tacy Foundation Inc., a nonprofit formed by Germantown music teacher Charlotte Holliday and her piano students, ages 5 to 18. The students assembled the first CD of original and classic compositions, Disc A of "Music Heals," at the Germantown Library on Nov. 8 and will record more music in January. The CDs will be distributed by a liaison at VHA.

The students have also produced and distributed CDs to breast cancer patients in Baltimore and the United Arab Emirates. The Avon Foundation donated extra CDs to Tawam Hospital in UAE. Johns Hopkins, where the Avon Foundation Breast Center is, has a partnership with UAE health services and manages Tawam Hospital.

Decorate BlackRock,

help your neighbors

Children can decorate a paper snowflake and put a smile on the faces of those less fortunate during the BlackRock Center for the Arts Project Snowflake, which will donate the $1 donations for decorating snowflakes to Germantown Help.

This is the first year BlackRock has hosted Project Snowflake, said Executive Director Charlotte Sommers. The arts center board of trustees wanted an event that allowed children to show their artistic side and do something for the community, she said.

Randy Scritchfield, chairman of the board of trustees for the arts center, said he would match the money raised by the project up to $250 to donate to Germantown HELP, said spokeswoman Chris Slattery. The snowflakes will hang in BlackRock's lobby during the holidays, Slattery said.

Germantown Help will deliver food to more than 900 Germantown families for Christmas, said Executive Director Cindy Majane. Though Germantown HELP receives food and super market gift card donations, Majane said the organization still need money to pay for other perishable items.

Gay Butz, 44, of Boyds, said she was thrilled when she heard of the project. Butz and her husband, Hap, donated an undisclosed amount of money to fund the production of "A Christmas Carol" at BlackRock, slated for Dec. 19. Slattery said the donation made sure BlackRock didn't have to fund the production. Tickets for the show will be $12 , Slattery said.

Butz said Project Snowflake will teach the children a lesson that they will hopefully always remember.

"It's a great way of showing the children philanthropy," Butz said. "They get to have fun while they're giving to a great organization."

Children can decorate snowflakes at BlackRock, 12901 Town Commons Drive, at the following times: from 4-6 p.m. Thursday and Dec. 9; from 4-6:30 p.m. Friday; from 4–7 p.m. Tuesday; and 9:30 a.m. – noon Saturday and Dec. 12.

Help pets during the holidays

Long & Foster real estate agent Deborah Hartten is reaching out to help animal rescue groups this season.

The Kentlands businesswoman has organized "Warm Hearts, Happy Paws," an in-kind donation drive to benefit participating rescue groups that spend volunteer hours and dollars to foster pets and find them permanent homes.

Rescue groups including Lizzy's Lodge, McWag Rescue and the Montgomery County Humane Society are participating and have posted wish lists on Hartten's Long & Foster Web site, http://WarmHeartsHappyPaws

.info.

Drop off items through Dec. 13 at Banfield, The Pet Hospital of Gaithersburg, 218 Kentlands Blvd., and Maple Springs Veterinary Hospital, 14925 Dufief Mill Road in Gaithersburg.

In Rockville, two animal hospitals are also collecting donations: Kenhaven Animal Hospital, 12311 Wilkins Ave., and Nebel Street Animal Hospital, 12100 Nebel St.

Donations can also be taken to King Farm's Pawlitics, 404 King Farm Blvd., Suite 140; Pro-Feed Pet Nutrition Center, 5542 Randolph Road, and Plow & Hearth, Congressional Plaza, 1625 Rockville Pike.

Donate to giving project

Montgomery County is accepting donations of food, gift cards, gifts for children and/or cash as part of its Holiday Giving Project.

Interfaith Works, a nonprofit organization with more than 140 member and affiliated congregations, is spearheading the project for the second year.

For more information, visit www.iworksmc.org/holidaygiving.html. To donate online, visit www.iworksmc.org/s-donation.html, click on the Network for Good button and enter Holiday Giving Project in the Designation box.

To donate or to volunteer, contact Susan Klavon at 301-315-1094 or giving@iworksmc.org. For more information, call the Volunteer Center at 240-777-2600 or visit www. montgomerycountymd.gov/volunteer.

Fun with a spiritual cause

A Poolesville Buddhist temple is gearing up for a holiday open house and bazaar. The day of fun, food and gifts will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Kunzang Palyul Choling Buddhist Temple, 18400 River Road.

Shoppers can enjoy reflexology, chair massages and a lunch buffet with complimentary beverages; take a tour; meditate in the 24-hour prayer room or take an outdoor walk among the traditional Stupas, or sacred structures that promote reflection and spiritual deepening.

Proceeds from jewelry and bake sales will benefit the temple's Garuda Aviary, a bird sanctuary that provides a home for more than 40 rescued parrots. Proceeds from the bazaar sales will benefit the temple's activities, including the 24 Hour Prayer Vigil for World Peace. The vigil is held by participants who pray in two-hour shifts; vowing to maintain the vigil until all beings are free from suffering. It has been unbroken since its launch in 1985.

The event is free. For more information, e-mail kpc@tara.org, call 301-710-6259, or visit www.tara.org.

Share your good news! Send submissions to Melissa A. Chadwick via e-mail at mchadwick@gazette.net, fax at 301-670-7183 or mail to The Germantown-Boyds-Poolesville Gazette, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.